Therapists in Long Beach, CA

My name is Thomas Williams and I am an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist. I have been working with a diverse population, such as children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families with a variety of needs; behavioral, emotional, social, relational, and psycho-educational.

I completed my M.S. counseling psychology w a specialty in adult education at EWU in 1995 and went on to work in college counseling centers, inpatient psych units, outpatient clinics, and private practice - but I also lived abroad; was an ordained monk in Thailand; and spent many more years studying and teaching the cognitive sciences of religion. With and despite these experiences, I try to make everyone, and anyone feel utterly at ease, welcome, and confident in my counseling practice.

At some point, we all struggle to adjust to change and fail to respond to life’s challenges with our best effort. It’s normal to feel stuck. We at Remarkable Services (RS) believe people inherently have what it takes within themselves to adjust, change and heal. No matter if it’s a challenging work situation, a parenting struggle, a tough year of high school or college, we all know what it feels like to struggle. Parents and their children are not immune, in that over the course of the first 18 years of life there are bound to be countless transitions, developments, change and of course, points of contention. RS is here to help!

In therapeutic processes, counselors and patients are challenged to create a platform that encourages change and enhances the quality of life. Counseling is a unique opportunity to build an "internal kaleidoscope" that helps us see and understand life in multiple ways. . I offer bilingual (English/Spanish) services to children, adolescents, adults, couples, families and groups. The techniques I use include a combination of theoretical perspectives such as psychoanalytic, existentialist, and expressive art therapy. Education: Ph.D. in Psychology, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist .Certification: Expressive Arts Therapy (UCSD) Training: Group Psychotherapist (AMPAG) . I look forward to working with you.!

Perhaps no one can ever inhabit fully the lived experience of another, nor would I presume that I could know it, yet our therapeutic relationship can—without disrespecting the integrity of your lived experience—present the opportunity to take your perspective. I hope to imagine your experience because, as Carl Jung articulates: “Loneliness does not come from having no people around you but from being unable to communicate the things that seem important to you," and in the memory of childhood’s loneliness and solitude, creative power resides.

With over twenty years experience in LGBTQ counseling, research, and teaching, I have a deep understanding of our community. Among LGBTQ individuals anxiety and depression may involve feelings of emptiness, relationship problems, interpersonal sensitivity, or addictions. The roots of these struggles can vary, but it helps to have a therapist who grasps the alienating impact of growing up in a world that disavows the core of who we are. I will help you address these issues, and others, through a deeper approach that can feel energizing, challenging, and even liberating.

I offer support for individuals who are feeling stuck and looking to foster joy through better relationships. Together, we’ll build greater awareness around anxieties, fears, triggers, or conflicts that get in the way of connection with others. We’ll work to identify your needs and further develop skills to communicate them. We'll spend time calling attention to beliefs, "shoulds" and narratives that might no longer serve you. We'll find the things that get in the way of self-compassion, and unpack them together.

Are anxiety and worry squeezing you? Does sadness and despair shadow your every move, regardless of your efforts? Do you carry memories of abuse and trauma, leaving you broken, damaged, and disconnected from your true self? The weight of these emotions forms a relentless storm within, casting shadows over relationships whether at home, work, or school. The pressure to be perfect weighs heavily, eroding well-being and sowing doubt. Sleep, focus, and clarity remain elusive. Internally, you yearn for success and true happiness, yet the struggle persists, leaving you feeling like a mere facade, a fake, a deceiver, a fraud.

(Zoom Video sessions) My ideal client: A creative, motivated, and intelligent professional with an obsession, usually drugs/alcohol and/or sex. A higher percentage of creative people struggle with addiction, because they just don't know when to quit! Creatives frequently have low self-esteem, often despite proven success. Using cognitive (CBT) techniques and psychodynamic methods (how events from the past affect the present) I use a pragmatic, individualized approach. I include solution-focused and music/art therapy to help the client gain insight and put the insight to work to achieve realistic goals.

Are you struggling with anxiety, depression, or substance-abuse? Are you having difficulty succeeding at work or in school? Are your relationships with friends, family or partners unsatisfying or fraught with conflict? Unfortunately, many individuals are not coping with the stresses in their lives appropriately which is creating more problems in their lives.

After a career in finance, including stints in investment banking and mortgage securitization, I decided that I needed a career that was more about people and less about spreadsheets. To that end, I completed training to become a mental health counselor, which is now my chosen profession. Becoming an ally to those working to make meaningful personal change or just navigate life’s challenges more peacefully has proven to be a profoundly rewarding career decision.